Chapter 6 - Calder’s One Rule
Vincent stood immediately.
“You're coming with me.”
“No.”
“Emma, this isn't the time.”
“Where?”
“My house.”
“No.”
He stared at me.
“You're unbelievable.”
“I have an apartment.”
“Fletcher knows where it is.”
“Then I'll stay with Angela.”
Angela appeared from behind the counter.
“I have three locks and a baseball bat.”
Vincent stared at her.
“That isn't helping.”
I almost smiled.
Then Vincent's expression softened.
“Emma, I'm asking. Not ordering.”
That changed everything.
I nodded.
“Fine.”
His house wasn't what I expected.
No marble palace.
No armed men everywhere.
It was an old Brooklyn brownstone with family photographs lining the hallway.
“You live here?”
“For thirty-one years.”
“You could afford something bigger.”
“I could afford a helicopter too. I don't want one.”
I laughed.
Then someone knocked.
Paul entered.
“Raymond disappeared.”
Vincent's face hardened.
“Police?”
“Looking.”
I immediately knew.
“He'll go to the diner.”
Vincent looked at me.
“Why?”
“Because that's where I stood up to him.”
I grabbed my coat.
Vincent blocked the door.
“Absolutely not.”
“He'll hurt Angela.”
“Angela left twenty minutes ago.”
“The overnight staff?”
Vincent paused.
That was enough.
---
We reached Calder's fifteen minutes later.
The lights were on.
The door stood open.
Vincent entered first.
Raymond was inside.
Alone.
He stood near booth six.
“You really do love this place,” he said.
Vincent remained calm.
“You violated my rule.”
Raymond smiled.
“What rule?”
“No violence in my diner.”
“I haven't touched anybody.”
“Yet.”
Then Raymond saw me.
His smile returned.
“There she is.”
I stepped beside Vincent.
“Why are you here?”
“You ruined my life.”
“No.”
I shook my head.
“You did that.”
“You took my records.”
“You put them in my possession.”
“You turned everyone against me.”
“They saw you clearly.”
His voice rose.
“I loved you!”
I stared at him.
“No. You loved controlling me.”
Raymond stepped forward.
Vincent didn't move.
Neither did I.
Sirens sounded outside.
Raymond heard them.
His expression collapsed.
“You called them?”
“I did,” I said.
“You knew I'd come?”
“I knew you couldn't stand losing control.”
Police lights flashed through the windows.
Raymond looked toward the back exit.
Paul was already standing there.
He stopped.
Detective Brennan entered.
“Raymond Fletcher, hands where I can see them.”
For several seconds, Raymond stared at me.
Then he lifted his hands.
This time, when they took him away, he didn't threaten me.
He didn't speak at all.
The bell rang as the door closed.
Silence returned.
Vincent looked around.
“Coffee?”
I stared at him.
“What?”
“It's been a long night.”
I started laughing.
So did Paul.
Soon even Brennan was smiling.
I walked behind the counter.
“One coffee.”
Vincent sat at booth six.
“Regular.”
“Not decaf?”
He looked offended.
“Do I look like I drink decaf?”
I froze.
Then burst out laughing.
Vincent looked confused.
“You have no idea why that's funny.”
“No.”
“I'll tell you someday.”
He smiled.
May you like
“I'd like that.”
---
